The The Antioch Declaration (TAD) struck me like a plow hitting a hard stone buried deep in the soil. There’s something heavy here—something that speaks to why people follow so blindly, like sheep trotting after the shepherd without knowing the path. So, I’m going to try to lay this out simply. My approach is straightforward: I’ll explain each part twice to two imaginary dummies, first for the younger, whose understanding is still growing, and then for the older, who may grasp subtler nuances. My translations aren’t endorsements, but rather attempts to build a bridge of understanding. I’ll pull pieces of the declaration, answer them, and then break them down. This process, like all meaningful conversations, will unfold slowly, over a few days, so that we can stand a little straighter and think a little deeper for ourselves. God help us find clarity. Lord knows, we’ll need His help to do that.

The church stood silent, its walls thick and sturdy, sheltering something no one dared to name. The greatest wrong in our time, tied up in its very soul, wasn’t confronted or even whispered about. Instead, it lay buried deep, safe and shielded by a fortress of endless affirmations and denials, each brick in that wall placed with care. I couldn’t help but wonder how long the silence could hold before the truth burst through.

Here we go.

TAD: Introduction 1 of 3

“The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch” (Acts 11:26) Just as the apostle Paul at Antioch “opposed him [Peter] to his face because he stood condemned” (Gal. 2:11, CSB) for compromising the gospel of Jesus Christ by subjecting it to racial barriers, so this brief statement opposes the ideas of some contemporary leaders and influencers seeking to introduce anti-gospel racial categories into the church. This Antioch Declaration was not conceived or developed in haste but after much prayer, thought, counsel, and soul-searching. Our task is an unpleasant one, but like the apostle Paul’s, it is necessary, even when other Christians are involved. When the gospel once for all delivered to the saints is itself at stake, we dare not remain silent.

☐ Agree   ☒ Disagree   ☐ Uncertain    Comment:

I have two issues with this opening statement which makes all that follows rest on shaky ground.

1. “The disciples were called Christians.”  Keeping in mind the context of this declaration, I hear this verse like this: “The disciples of every nation, tribe, and tongue, were called neither Jew nor Greek, neither slave nor free, neither male nor female, but one thing, Christians.” This leads me to ask, was Luke being descriptive or prescriptive in Acts 11:26? If not prescriptive, but descriptive, then there is little thunder to the reasoning that follows.

2. Was it really race that troubled Peter, or was he struggling with something more intimate, more profound, and more theological? Imagine Peter—his sandals worn, his faith tested—torn between the traditions of his past (life under the law) and the new teachings of a rabbi (justification by faith) who had transformed his world. When the rabbi died, Peter’s confusion deepened, and he sought refuge in the familiar.

Consider how easily this can happen. Imagine yourself in Peter’s sandals, but with this subtle difference. You’ve grown up Christian, every teaching and practice etched into your mind like the lines on your palms. Then, one day, you meet a miracle worker—a rabbi who offers something entirely new. He tells you there’s a different way to live, let’s say, for the sake of argument, Mormonism. His words are persuasive, his presence magnetic. You leave behind everything you’ve known, embracing this new way with conviction. But then, suddenly, he is gone. His absence feels like a wound, raw and unhealed. Alone, you try to carry on, but the weight of the unknown is heavy. In time, the pull of what you left behind grows stronger. You find yourself looking back, drawn to the comfort of the old ways, hoping to reconcile the past with all you’ve learned. Wouldn’t anyone, in such a moment, feel the pull and possibly even drift back to the old Christian ways trying to make sense out of all you have learned?

By doing this, Peter placed himself back under the law. I don’t think Paul had time in his day to write letters to racists. I think Paul, the apostle not sent from men, nor through the agency of man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised Him from the dead, who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us out of this present evil age, stood amazed at Peter when he learned he had gone back to this. He wrote to correct him theologically.

Paul’s challenge was not about anything else. It was not about Peter’s heritage—Jew or Gentile, or his state in this world, slave or free—but about his soul, his salvation, and the dawn of a new faith. He did not want that to darken.

The authors of TAD on the other hand, are shifting the focus of this passage upon race so as to set themselves up to win their argument.

---

---

Now, let me translate this opening remark for my two dummies:

INTERPRETATION and EXPLANATION

The Younger

This is talking about a passage in the Bible (Acts 11:26) that says the first people who followed Jesus were called “Christians” in a city named Antioch.  The authors are comparing this situation to a time when the apostle Paul confronted another follower of Jesus named Peter for not treating everyone equally, even though Jesus taught that all people are equal, regardless of their race or background. The authors are making it clear that they don’t like seeing people introduce ideas that separate people based on race, which they think goes against what Jesus taught. They spent a lot of time thinking and praying about this before writing their statement, because they believe it’s an important issue that needs to be addressed.  Just like the apostle Paul, the author admits that it’s not an easy task to confront others about this, but they believe it’s necessary to protect the message of Jesus and make sure that everyone is treated equally in the church.

The Older

In the Bible, there’s a story about Jesus and His followers, called the disciples. These disciples spread the message of Jesus throughout the world. They were first called “Christians” in a city named Antioch.  This is important because it tells us when and where the word “Christian” was first used. It helps us understand that being a Christian is about following Jesus and His teachings, not about racial categories or things like that; it is not about what sex you are or who you are married to.  Now, imagine there are some people today who want to mix up Jesus’ message with ideas like race, gender, and married life. The writers of this declaration do not agree with that. They say that we should stay true to Jesus’ message, and that sometimes, we even have to speak up against people we know, if they’re not sharing the right message about Jesus.  These spiritual leaders spent a lot of time thinking and praying about this, just like the early disciples did when they were first called Christians. They believe it’s very important to make sure that Jesus’ message is clear and not mixed up with other ideas, especially when it comes to being kind and fair to everyone, no matter what race, what gender they choose to be, or who they decide to bond with in marriage.

So no, regarding this opening, we cannot subscribe to this.

TAD: Introduction 2 of 3

Thus, as confessionally Reformed, Lutheran and Evangelical believers from a broad range of churches, we have come together to identify and resist a rising tide of reactionary thinking emerging on the fringes of our own circles. Those especially at risk of being led astray by wolves clothed as shepherds are among the younger generations of Christian men whom we love and care about deeply. As believers, we must always build and act upon the foundation of Scripture. This must include all our engagement in socio-cultural and political life. To react to cultural developments in a manner that denies the functional and final authority of the Word of God over us is to move against the rule of Christ and His Kingdom. Since God does not show favoritism (Rom. 2:11), the Word of God must be faithfully applied everywhere and to all.

☐ Agree   ☒ Disagree   ☐ Uncertain    Comment:

.

The authors might have mistaken the meaning of that “rising tide.” They need to stop and really watch, to let it show itself for what it is. Maybe it is just the Moon pulling at the waters like it always does. Or maybe it’s something more fierce, like a tsunami rolling in from a quake deep under the earth. Or maybe it’s something else entirely, something we can’t name yet but only feel in our bones.  

The counsel of Nicodemus, the teacher of Israel, comes into play here:

John 7:45-52 The officers then came to the chief priests and Pharisees, and they said to them, “Why did you not bring Him [referring to Jesus]?” The officers answered, “Never has a man spoken the way this man speaks.” The Pharisees then answered them, “You have not also been led astray, have you? “No one of the rulers or Pharisees has believed in Him, has he? “But this crowd which does not know the Law is accursed.” Nicodemus (he who came to Him before, being one of them) said to them, “Our Law does not judge a man unless it first hears from him and knows what he is doing, does it?” They answered him, “You are not also from Galilee, are you? Search, and see that no prophet arises out of Galilee.”

Gamaliel is no hindrance to learning the truth either. In fact, these Scriptures make you wonder who is really being “reactionary” here.

Acts 5:33-41 But when they heard this, they were cut to the quick and intended to kill them. But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the Law, respected by all the people, stood up in the Council and gave orders to put the men outside for a short time. And he said to them, “Men of Israel, take care what you propose to do with these men. For some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a group of about four hundred men joined up with him. But he was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing. After this man, Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of the census and drew away some people after him; he too perished, and all those who followed him were scattered. So in the present case, I say to you, stay away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or action is of men, it will be overthrown; but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them; or else you may even be found fighting against God.”

They took his advice; and after calling the apostles in, they flogged them and ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and then released them. So they went on their way from the presence of the Council, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name.

Martin Luther considered the printing press the greatest act of God’s grace. That’s saying a lot for a man like him.  But think about it—it let the Word of God reach everyday folks, brought truth into their homes, and stirred a revolution. Now we’ve got the Internet, and you can bet another kind of revolution is coming.  The Church shouldn’t rush to punish every stranger bringing their stories. Be watchful, sure, but know this: liars don’t stay hidden forever. Truth has a way of shining through.

Remember what Paul told Timothy?

1 Timothy 5:24-25 The sins of some men are quite evident, going before them to judgment; for others, their sins follow after. Likewise also, deeds that are good are quite evident, and those which are otherwise cannot be concealed.

Instead of flogging one another, we should encourage families to establish information clearing houses – places where trusted individuals work together on sifting through all the claims. The noteworthy ones can be incorporate into the church to let the church become what Paul described it to be, “the pillar and support of the truth.” Wouldn’t that be something? It would help the nation too.

“A popular government without popular information or the means of acquiring it, is but a Prologue to Farce, or a Tragedy, or perhaps both. Knowledge will forever govern ignorance and a people who mean to be their own Governors, must arm themselves with the power which knowledge gives.” ~ James Madison

---

.

Now, with that out of the way, I do agree with the majority of what this portion stated.

Let me translate this second part for my two dummies:

.

INTERPRETATION and EXPLANATION

The Younger

The authors are saying that they are part of different Christian groups, like Reformed, Lutheran, and Evangelical churches. They have come together because they see some people within their circles who are thinking in ways that are not very good for the Christian faith. They are particularly concerned about younger Christian men, whom they care about a lot. They believe that these young men could be misled by some people who pretend to be good leaders but are actually not. They want to remind us that as Christians, we should always follow what the Bible says, no matter what’s happening in the world around us. They say that if we don’t do this, we are going against Jesus and His teachings. The authors also mention that God treats everyone equally, and we should do the same by following what the Bible says for everyone, no matter who they are.

The Older

As Christians, we believe that everything we do should be based on the Bible, which we call the Word of God. It’s like a solid foundation that helps us know what’s true and how we should live. The Bible teaches us that God doesn’t show favoritism—He doesn’t prefer one person or group over another (Romans 2:11). That means His truth applies to everyone, no matter who they are or where they come from.

Sometimes, people who seem to be leaders in the church might start teaching ideas that don’t match what the Bible says. This is dangerous because it can confuse people, especially younger Christians who are still learning and growing in their faith. These leaders might look like good teachers, but if their ideas don’t line up with Scripture, they’re leading people away from God’s truth. That’s why it’s important to know the Bible well and be careful about what we believe and follow.

As Christians, we also live in a world with lots of cultural and political issues. When we think about or respond to these issues, we need to make sure we’re doing it in a way that agrees with what the Bible teaches. If we don’t, we’re not honoring Jesus as our King, because His Word should guide everything we do.

So, this is a reminder for Christians to stay grounded in the Bible, to be careful about what we believe, and to always let God’s Word shape how we live and make decisions.

TAD: Introduction 3 of 3

This clearly implies that while we must never criticize the political right simply because the progressive left demand it, to declare that we will never have “enemies on the right,” simply indicates to Satan and his hordes what form his next attack on the people of God should take, and from which direction it should come. In order to avoid a diabolic ditch on both sides of the socio-political road, and to advance God’s Kingdom purposes, we therefore offer the following declarations and invite signatories. “By the evidence of their own scriptures they bear witness for us that we have not fabricated the prophecies about Christ . . . It follows that when the Jews do not believe in our scriptures, their scriptures are fulfilled in them, while they read them with blind eyes . . . It is in order to give this testimony which, in spite of themselves, they supply for our benefit by their possession and preservation of those books [of the Old Testament] that they are themselves dispersed among all nations, whether the Christian church spreads . . . Hence the prophecy in the Book of Psalms: Slay them not, lest they forget your law; scatter them by your might” (Augustine, City of God 18.46).

☐ Agree   ☐ Disagree   ☒ Uncertain    Comment:

.

I’m hesitant to say much about this part because I can’t make sense of it. I’ve read it over and over, and it feels like squeezing a dry, discarded lemon—there’s nothing left to get. But here’s the thing: with all the trouble the Church is facing, the authors’ image of danger on the “socio-political road” falls flat. It’s too simple, as if they’re only seeing left and right, while evil moves through all dimensions. I pray they widen their understanding and think about all the tools God has given us to fight evil. The Church isn’t the only line of defense. If they need a Scripture verse to pry their hands loose from their myopic view, then take this one; its descriptive.  We need to make it prescriptive.

Isaiah 13:12-14 I will make mortal man scarcer than pure gold and mankind than the gold of Ophir. Therefore I will make the heavens tremble, and the earth will be shaken from its place at the fury of the Lord of hosts in the day of His burning anger. And it will be that like a hunted gazelle, or like sheep with none to gather them, they will each turn to his own people, and each one flee to his own land.

.

INTERPRETATION and EXPLANATION

I have no explanation that I am confident in, so I have no interpretation or explanation to add here.

Now, let’s move on and see if we can make more sense of their declarations.

WE DENY that the Kingdom purposes of Christ and requirements of His Word can be equated with the seating positions of political actors during the French Revolution, or that the modern antithesis between right and left is equivalent to the antithesis that God established in the Garden of Eden between the seed of the woman and the seed of the serpent, the kingdom of darkness and kingdom of light.

☒ Agree   ☐ Disagree   ☐ Uncertain    Comment:

After considerable thought, I agree. Here is my translation.

INTERPRETATION and EXPLANATION

The Younger

As Christians, we believe that God’s Word—the Bible—guides us in understanding what’s right and wrong, light and darkness, and truth and error. In the Bible, we learn about the antithesis, or sharp contrast, that God set up in the Garden of Eden. This contrast is between the “seed of the woman” (those who follow God) and the “seed of the serpent” (those who oppose God). This isn’t just about people; it’s about two spiritual kingdoms: the kingdom of God, which brings light, and the kingdom of darkness, which stands against God.

The French Revolution, which happened hundreds of years ago, was a time when people debated and fought over big political ideas. During that time, people began to think of politics in terms of “right” and “left,” meaning conservative or liberal. This way of thinking about politics is still used today. But this statement says we should not confuse those political categories with the spiritual divide that the Bible talks about. The differences between political ideas—like right and left—are not the same as the deeper difference between God’s kingdom and the kingdom of darkness.

What this means is that we can’t automatically say one political side is always right or godly and the other is always wrong or evil. Instead, we need to look at everything through the lens of Scripture and let God’s Word guide our actions and decisions. The most important thing for Christians is to stay faithful to God’s kingdom purposes, which are far bigger than any political arguments.

The Older

The authors are saying that following Jesus and doing what the Bible says is not the same as choosing a side in a political argument or event, like the French Revolution.

They also say that the struggle between good and bad people that started in the Bible when God created the world is not the same as the disagreement between people with different political views today. The author believes that it’s important to focus on following Jesus and His teachings, rather than getting caught up in political debates.

So, in light of these explanations, I agree and affirm this position.

WE AFFIRM that the modern neo-pagan secular project is bankrupt and desperately trying to hold the social order together by means of a fraudulent narrative and anti-Christian worldview.  As a result, the lies of secular elites in all spheres have necessarily grown increasingly evident and outrageous.

☐ Agree   ☒ Disagree   ☐ Uncertain    Comment:

.

At first I was tempted to agree with this affirmation, but the more I thought about it the more I oppose it. What is being affirmed here is really the denial of what the real problem is. It’s obfuscation.

The authors might mean the project is morally bankrupt in their estimation, but most Christians in America are financially and politically supporting it, so it is far from bankrupt in the normal use of the term. They’ve mortgaged their grandchildren’s future to get what we see today. Rejecting such denouncement of such a project may seem surprising to these authors, but that is only because they refuse to see who promotes “the modern neo-pagan secular project.” This term, by the way, is another example of defining the terms to set yourself up for a win.

I don’t think the modern neo-pagan secular project is trying to hold our world together. I think it is trying to blow things up. The project works like it was made to work. It is very effective, not ineffective. You need to look behind the project. The people that run “the modern neo-pagan secular project ” ran Communism into the ground in the 1900s and now they are working on running capitalism into the ground in the 2000s. Many of the people driving this juggernaut have dual citizenship. Nonetheless, the majority supporting and cheering these people are American Christians!  It is astounding.

Instead of continuing to believe that these secular elites are just ill informed people working from a bankrupt secular plan with good intentions while trying to serve our interest, we need to see them for what they are. They are evil people with an evil plan that uproots our civilization.

I agree that the referenced lies have grown increasingly evident and outrageous. But there is another set of outlandish lies that need to be looked into. We need to look and ask questions before it becomes illegal to do so. This is the real elephant in the room. The modern neo-pagan secular project is not the main problem. If the whole world affirmed this declaration, it would not stop the enemy from destroying our children’s future. This affirmation is obfuscation. It provides no help.

Jeremiah 8:20 “Harvest is past, summer is ended, and we are not saved.”

Jeremiah 23:14 “Also among the prophets of Jerusalem I have seen a horrible thing: The…walking in falsehood; and they [the prophets] strengthen the hands of evildoers, so that no one has turned back from his wickedness. All of them have become to Me like Sodom, and her inhabitants like Gomorrah.

.

Now, let me translate this second declaration for my two dummies; it might help you understand why I rejected it.

.

INTERPRETATION and EXPLANATION

The Younger

Alright, let’s break this down into simpler terms so it’s easier to understand.

First, let’s talk about the “modern neo-pagan secular project.” This is a fancy way of talking about the way many people in the world today think and live. “Neo-pagan” means “new pagan,” which means people who don’t believe in the God of the Bible and instead believe in many gods or no god at all. “Secular” means not related to religion or spirituality. So, this phrase is talking about the way people today often live without caring about God or the Bible.

The statement says that this way of living and thinking is “bankrupt.” This means that it’s not working, it’s not a good way to live, and it’s not leading to good things for people or society.

Because this way of living is not working, the people who believe in it and try to make everyone else live this way are having a hard time keeping everything together. They’re trying to make everyone believe a story that’s not true (a “fraudulent narrative”) and a way of thinking that goes against what the Bible teaches (an “anti-Christian worldview”).

As more and more people start to see that this way of living is not good, the people who support it have to make up bigger and bigger lies to try to convince everyone that it’s still a good way to live. These lies are becoming more and more obvious and hard to believe (they’re “increasingly evident and outrageous”).

So, what this statement is saying is that the way many people in the world today live and think, without caring about God or the Bible, is not a good way to live. It’s causing problems for everyone, and the people who support this way of living are having to make up more and more lies to try to keep everyone believing in it.

The Older

The authors are saying that the ideas of people who don’t believe in God and want to separate religion from public life (called the “neo-pagan secular project”) are not good for society. They believe that these ideas are failing and that the people who support them are trying to keep society together by telling lies and promoting ideas that go against what Jesus taught.

The author also thinks that these lies and anti-Christian ideas are becoming more obvious and extreme over time. They want people to see the truth and follow Jesus instead.

Sections

I have reviewed all the sections of this declaration. You may click on the link to jump to that section.

Declaration	Due	Status
Preamble, 1-2	11/27/24	Completed
3-7	11/29/24	Completed
8-10	11/30/24	Completed
11-14	12/04/24	Completed
15-17	12/06/24	Completed
18-19	12/12/24	Completed
20-21	12/14/24	Completed
22	12/17/24	Completed
23	12/19/24	Completed
24	12/23/24	Completed
25	12/25/24	in progress